0
TeacherJapan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

them and some?

You should have told me you were out of envelopes.
I could have bought them/some when I went to the store.

Which would you choose? Could you tell me why that is your choice?
  

Top answer

Use "some". "them" would refer to the envelopes.

— Tamguatlay

  • Use "some".
  • "them" would refer to the envelopes.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

13 Answers
0
Use "some". "them" would refer to the envelopes.
0
0
I see. Thank you very much Emotion: smile
0
0
I understand the answer to the previous question.
them = the envelopes you had run out of. So you can't buy "them" of course.
could I ask you another question along the line?

A: "I need envelopes."
B: "I'll get ( )."

1) them 2) some

What about this case?
0
0
A: I need envelopes.
B: I'll get them. (the envelopes)
B: I'll get some. (some envelopes)
0
0
A: "I need a dozen envelopes."
B: "I'll get them when I go shopping."

A: "I need envelopes."
B: "I'll get some when I go shopping."
0
0
I see!! Now I understand:) Thank you for your great examples!
0
0
teacherJapanI see!! Now I understand
You're doing better than I am. I was stumped by the answer below because the only plural noun in the first sentence is "envelopes", so "some" would have to refer to the envelopes just as much as "them" refers to the envelopes. And what would you want to refer to other than the envelopes anyway?

0
0
Ah!! I am getting confused about this! This needs more consideration, I think:)
0
0
teacherJapan Ah!! I am getting confused about this! This needs more consideration, I think:)
I think it's the difference between the items themselves (them) and how many (some). You may want to think along those lines while further considering the matter.

CJ
0
0
CalifJim I was stumped by the answer below because the only plural noun in the first sentence is "envelopes", so "some" would have to refer to the envelopes just as much as "them" refers to the envelopes. And what would you want to refer to other than the envelopes anyway?
Use "some". "them" would refer to the envelopes.
0

Related Questions